Hi All,
First time fuser here with a scary new machine. I've only used this kiln to make little glass globs, and to fire Silver Art Clay. I was very happy with my silver piece, but the ramp time recommended is only one hour, and the soak time 10 minute, and no annealing needed. I don't feel that I've tested the kiln properly for what it should do for fusing glass. According to what I've read, a 90 minute (at least) ramp time is recommended, and I haven't figured out how many minutes to leave it at a particular setting before I raise it to the next higher setting. I hope I'm explaining this right. If anyone is experienced in the Hot Box Kiln by EvenHeat, and could make some recommendations, I would very much appreciate it. Thanks everyone.
J. Savina wrote:Hi All,
First time fuser here with a scary new machine. I've only used this kiln to make little glass globs, and to fire Silver Art Clay. I was very happy with my silver piece, but the ramp time recommended is only one hour, and the soak time 10 minute, and no annealing needed. I don't feel that I've tested the kiln properly for what it should do for fusing glass. According to what I've read, a 90 minute (at least) ramp time is recommended, and I haven't figured out how many minutes to leave it at a particular setting before I raise it to the next higher setting. I hope I'm explaining this right. If anyone is experienced in the Hot Box Kiln by EvenHeat, and could make some recommendations, I would very much appreciate it. Thanks everyone.
I love my hot box use it quite a bit . I tend to watch the temp ie. I start out setting it on 2 up to 500 degree F . move up to med.until7 0r 800. then go to med . until about 1100 f then up to 4 or 5 to 1200. and eventually to HI . Once you get to HI you must watch it carefully, because things happen fast. I lost a lot of jewelry pieces not paying attention.
robert
Robert, You're a big help. I appreciate the information. I was doing something similar, but going one number at a time, waiting about 15-20 minutes between, recording the temp, etc. I found a kitchen stop watch that has 3 different modes, so I can time 30, 60, and 90 minutes. I figure with my tendency to have these senior moments, I'll forget to set the timer and ruin a good expensive piece. Thanks again. J.
I never put my hotbox kiln on High. Seems like I overcook my pieces every time I do. I look at it one minute & it's not done; then I look at it two minutes later, and it's overcooked. So, I set it on the highest setting just before High to go to temperature. I also got a new lid for it - the one with the window in it - in order to watch more closely. I highly recommend this lid.
Pat Loboda wrote:I never put my hotbox kiln on High. Seems like I overcook my pieces every time I do. I look at it one minute & it's not done; then I look at it two minutes later, and it's overcooked. So, I set it on the highest setting just before High to go to temperature. I also got a new lid for it - the one with the window in it - in order to watch more closely. I highly recommend this lid.
Pat
Thanks Pat I'll try that .I do use a timer that I set to go off at 60 seconds. So I'm forced to remember to look more often. I like the idea of the window in the lid where did you find it?
robert
I've only used this kiln to make little glass globs, and to fire Silver Art Clay. I was very happy with my silver piece, but the ramp time recommended is only one hour, and the soak time 10 minute, and no annealing needed. I don't feel that I've tested the kiln properly for what it should do for fusing glass. According to what I've read, a 90 minute (at least) ramp time is recommended, and I haven't figured out how many minutes to leave it at a particular setting before I raise it to the next higher setting. I hope I'm explaining this right. If anyone is experienced in the Hot Box Kiln by EvenHeat, and could make some recommendations, I would very much appreciate it. Thanks everyone. 
I appreciate the information. I was doing something similar, but going one number at a time, waiting about 15-20 minutes between, recording the temp, etc. I found a kitchen stop watch that has 3 different modes, so I can time 30, 60, and 90 minutes. I figure with my tendency to have these senior moments, I'll forget to set the timer and ruin a good expensive piece. Thanks again. J.